Regrets I May Have Had A Few

Chapter 7

"A quest you say?" Jack asked, his head cocked to the side, his tone and expression full of suspicion.

Calypso smiled at Jack and waved her hand dismissively, "Nothing de witty Captain Jack Sparrow not be able to handle."

"I'd rather be the one doin the actual judgin of what I can and cannot handle 'n be doin the actual in fact choosin of same by me own self if you don't mind." Jack replied snippily, a pouty frown on his face.

James, sensing this could quickly turn into a pointless and highly irritating bickering match between the two decided, for his own sanity's sake if nothing else, to interrupt. "What manner of quest would this be Miss Calypso, and how does it involve me?"

Calypso directed her attention to the Commodore and gave him a momentary sultry once over before adopting a serious expression and tone, "Dis quest I be chargin de two ob you wid be ob de most great importance James Norrington. I be sendin the two ob you after de Jeweled Ring of Triton."

Jack leaned toward Calypso, his fingers fluttering around between them, his face lit up clearly showing interest, "Sounds…shiny."

James looked at Jack, rolled his eyes and shook his head before turning back to Calypso, "I can understand your interest in acquiring Mr. Sparrow's services in this quest given his talent for skullduggery, but that does not explained why you would require my participation in such a venture as well."

"Dis not be any manner ob ordinary ring James Norrington. It be most important not to be fallin into de wrong hands for too long a time," She stopped and looked pointedly at Jack.

Jack rocked back on his heels with an exaggeratedly offended expression for both of them. Speaking in a high pitched affronted tone he said, "I'm sure I don't have the slightest notion to what either one of you may be referring to 'n take great umbrage to the way in which the both of you did in fact do the referring."

James snorted and said sarcastically, "Yes, I'm sure you do." Turning back to Calypso he said, "To my knowledge I do not posses any of the disreputable credentials this particular pursuance would seem to require, ergo your need for my assistance still remains unexplained."

Calypso smiled at James, "Dat be de very point James Norrington." She gestured toward Jack, "One ob you do," then pointing to James, "'n one ob you don't."

After a few moments of thought Calypso's meaning became clear and James replied, "So your intent is to send both of us on this quest, Mr. Sparrow to obtain the ring, and I to make sure Mr. Sparrow does not abscond with it once acquired."

"Dat be de exact way what Calypso be thinkin James Norrington." She retuned with a sly smile.

"And if I choose not to participate?" James asked.

Calypso gave him a sad smile and waved her hands to encompass their surroundings, "Calypso be understandin if dat be de Commodore's choosin, but den I be afraid de fine Commodore hab nothing but this bit ob eternity to be lookin forward to."

"That bit of coercive persuasion is no doubt meant to garner a positive response." James replied with sarcasm.

"If de Commodore be as smart as Calypso be thinkin him be he be understandin dat de rewards ob helpin Calypso be as wondrous to him as de withholdin ob him help be distressin to him."

Jack decided at this point it might be advantageous to make his position on the matter more than clear, "Just so ya know luv I'm good with it. Old Jack has no problem usin any and all skullduggerish talents and disreputable cridinshal thingys he possesses and snatchin said shiny and obscondin with the little bugger…er…bringin it right back to you of course."

Calypso and James both frowned at him, then ignored him and continued their conversation.

"It would seem I have very little choice in the matter, although the thought of spending eternity here does not seem quite so bleak knowing I would not be spending that eternity with Mr. Sparrow as companion." James directed his gaze toward Jack as he said this, and snorted as Jack stuck his tongue out in reply. "However, upon further contemplation I shall accept your quest, with the stipulation that at its conclusion, or any future time for that matter, I will not be returning here."

Calypso smiled, "Agreed."

"Now just exactly where do we find this Ring of Triton?" James asked.

"Calypso be habin dis sister dat be called Sao. It be her what recently come into possession ob de ring."

"If it is your sister that has the ring why do you not get it from her yourself?" James asked.

Calypso shook her head and gave James a look that conveyed she thought he might be a simpleton, "Things not be dat easy James Norrington, not dat easy at all." When his expression showed he didn't quite understand she added in a tone that suggested she was sure he was a simpleton, "If dat were possible dat would be what Calypso would be doin den wouldn't she." She paused for a moment giving her snarky remark a moment to sink in before going on in a tone that suggested she were explaining to a schoolboy, "De Gods be a complicated lot. Things don't be workin always like id be expected. Dis ring cannot be physically possessed by de Gods. We hab to hab a mortal keep de ring for us. Sao will hab de ring hidden 'n under dis person's care. Make no mistake James Norrington, Sao cannot be trusted wid dis ring, it be holdin too much power. Her don't realize yet how much power it does be holdin 'n what her could be doin wid dat power. It be needin to be away from her fore her does."

James, not at all happy with being talked down to in such a manner never the less responded, somewhat grudgingly, in the respectful manner he had been taught when addressing the opposite sex, "Then Miss Calypso I would suggest you take us where we need to be to fulfill this quest of yours."

Calypso smiled, "Calypso be sendin de two ob you along on your own. If Calypso come too close Sao be knowin dat she be after de ring."

"Well then," Jack said happily as he fluttered his hands about and rocked back and forth on his heels, "I say no time like the present, aye?"

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"Blast and be Damned!" James bellowed as he was suddenly standing mid shin deep in a muddy pig pen amongst at least a dozen pigs.

Jack, who was a few feet away in the same mud grimaced, "It appears her sense of humor has not improved." Then looking toward James with a cheery smile he added, "Look on the bright side Commodore, least this time you didn't wind up face down in the muck."

At that moment one of the larger pigs skittered past James bumping into him and throwing him off balance sending him face down in the muck. After he managed to struggle his way free of the mud and to his knees, wiping what muck he could from his face James huffed out with irritation "Indeed!"

To Be Continued

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